View source for RAF Support Command

{{Short description|Defunct command element of the Royal Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=RAF Support Command 
|image=RAFSupportCommand.png
|caption=[[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|RAF Support Command badge]] 
|dates= 1973-1994
|country= {{UK}}
|allegiance=
|branch= {{Air force|UK}}
|type= 
|role= Logistical and maintenance support
|size= 18,144 uniformed personnel (1993)
|command_structure=
|garrison= [[RAF Brampton]]<ref>Royal Air Force, [http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbramptonwyton/aboutus/historyofrafbrampton.cfm History of RAF Brampton], accessed December 2013.</ref>
|garrison_label=Headquarters
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto= ''Ut Aquilae Volent'' ({{lang-la|That Eagles May Fly}})<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pine |first1=L G |title=A Dictionary of mottoes |date=1983 |publisher=Routledge & K. Paul |location=London |isbn=0-7100-9339-X |page=243}}</ref>
|colors=
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|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|disbanded=
<!-- Commanders -->
|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
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|notable_commanders=
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=
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<!-- Aircraft -->
}}
'''Support Command''' was a [[Command (military formation)|command]] of the [[Royal Air Force]] between 1973 and 1994. The headquarters was located at [[RAF Brampton]] in [[Cambridgeshire]].

==History==

It was formed on 31 August 1973 by the renaming of [[RAF Maintenance Command]],<ref name=air>[http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H4.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1958 - 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705160727/http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_H4.htm |date=5 July 2014 }}</ref> with [[No. 90 Group RAF|No. 90 (Signals) Group]] being added to it. Its responsibilities included all logistical and maintenance support requirements of the RAF. Among its first stations assigned may have been [[RAF Gan]], transferred from [[Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force)|Far East Air Force]]. It was renamed as RAF Support Command, and its role further increased, on 13 June 1977 when it absorbed [[RAF Training Command|Training Command]], making it additionally responsible for all RAF ground and aircrew training.{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=293}} In 1982, Support Command had an inventory of 500 aircraft and 49,000 personnel, which included 14,000 civilians and 8,000 trainees.{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=293}}

Support Command undertook training for all officers and other ranks, which was delivered at [[RAF Biggin Hill|Biggin Hill]], [[RAF Cosford|Cosford]], [[RAF Cranwell|Cranwell]], [[RAF Digby|Digby]], [[RAF Finningley|Finningley]], [[RAF Halton|Halton]], [[RAF Henlow|Henlow]], [[RAF Hereford|Hereford]], [[RAF Leeming|Leeming]], [[RAF Linton-on-Ouse|Linton-on-Ouse]], [[RAF Locking|Locking]], [[RAF Newton|Newton]], [[RAF North Luffenham|North Luffenham]], [[RAF St Athan|St Athan]], [[RAF Sealand|Sealand]], [[RAF Shawbury|Shawbury]], [[RAF Swinderby|Swinderby]], and [[RAF Valley|Valley]].{{sfn|Ansell|1982|pp=293–299}} One major function of Support Command was facilitating medical training and delivery of medical services. This involved the control of the RAF Hospitals at Ely, Halton, [[Nocton Hall]] and [[RAF Wroughton|Wroughton]]. Support Command was also responsible for the rehabilitation centres at Chessington and [[Headley Court]].{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=299}}

In the 1980s the bunker at [[RAF Holmpton]] was converted to form a new Emergency War Headquarters for RAF Support Command.<ref>{{cite news |title=Public warned of 'rigged explosions' during filming at Cold War-era nuclear bunker in Yorkshire |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/public-warned-rigged-explosions-during-filming-cold-war-era-nuclear-bunker-yorkshire-808995 |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=1 May 2018}}</ref> In the year before it was disbanded (1993), Support Command had 18,144 uniformed personnel under its structure, spread across 40 locations.<ref>{{cite web |title=RAF Support Command (Hansard, 9 July 1993) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1993/jul/09/raf-support-command |website=api.parliament.uk |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref> In October 1985, the HQ building of Support Command at RAF Brampton was destroyed by fire.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fire Sweeps Through RAF Base |url=https://apnews.com/article/0fbaf3bf645b12eec8c61739d17d6fbe |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=AP News |date=24 October 1985}}</ref> Staff had to move into temporary accommodation until a new HQ building was built, with the final cost coming in at around £44&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Short |first1=Eric |title=RAF Fire Raises October Damage Figures To 64.1 Million pounds |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=RAF%20Brampton%20Fire&docref=news/1139740A74FA4180 |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=The Financial Times |issue=29,803 |date=12 December 1985 |page=9|issn=0307-1766}}</ref> The new HQ was opened on 7 June 1988 by the Duke of Gloucester.{{sfn|March|1989|p=88}}

In 1994 the Command was split up, with many of its functions merging with those of the RAF Personnel Management Centre to form [[RAF Personnel and Training Command]], and others being hived off into [[RAF Logistics Command]].<ref name=air/>

==Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief==
The following officers have held the appointment of [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] RAF Support Command:<ref name=air/>

*31 Aug 1973 - Air Marshal Sir [[Reginald Harland]] 
*13 Jun 1977 - Air Marshal Sir [[Rex Roe]]
*30 Aug 1978 - Air Marshal Sir [[Keith Williamson]]
*3 May 1980 - Air Marshal Sir [[John Gingell]]<ref>{{Cite ODNB|first=May|last=Alex|title=Gingell, Sir John|id=101725}}</ref>
*27 Apr 1981 - Air Marshal Sir [[Michael Beavis]]{{sfn|Ansell|1982|p=293}}
*15 Feb 1984 - Air Marshal Sir [[David Harcourt-Smith]]<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Taylor |first1=John W R |title=How good is the RAF |magazine=Air Force Magazine |date=October 1984 |volume=67 |issue=10 |page=69 |publisher=Air Force Association |location=Arlington |issn=0730-6784 |oclc=907717893}}</ref>
*2 Jan 1986 - Air Marshal Sir [[John Sutton (RAF officer)|John Sutton]]<ref>{{cite news |title=John Sutton: Cold War fighter pilot who later rose through the ranks |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-sutton-cold-war-fighter-pilot-who-later-rose-through-ranks-become-commander-chief-raf-support-command-10054878.html |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=The Independent |date=19 February 2015}}</ref>
*5 Apr 1989 - Air Chief Marshal Sir [[Michael Graydon]]<ref name="TT">{{cite news |editor-last1=Jenkins |editor-first1=Simon |editor-link=Simon Jenkins|title=Appointments |work=The Times |issue=63,854 |date=3 November 1990 |page=14|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
*8 May 1990 - Air Chief Marshal Sir [[John Thomson (RAF officer)|John Thomson]]<ref name="TT"/>
*5 Oct 1992 - Air Chief Marshal Sir [[John Willis (RAF officer)|John Willis]]

==See also==

* [[List of Royal Air Force commands]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
===Sources===
*{{cite magazine |last1=Ansell |first1=Keith |title=Royal Air Force Support Command |magazine=Armed Forces Magazine |date=September 1982 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |issn=0142-4696 |oclc=231043296}}
*{{cite book |last1=March|first1=P.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1989|year=1989|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=Fairford, UK}}

==Further reading==
*Jackson, Brendan. "Logistic support in the Royal Air Force." The RUSI Journal 137, no. 6 (1992): 38–43.
*Terry Ford GEng MRAeS, (1987) "Royal Air Force Engineering", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 59 Issue: 11, pp.&nbsp;11–13, https://doi.org/10.1108/. An opportunity to become acquainted with the engineering expertise available at RAF Stations and to study the degree of involvement in design and manufacture occurred recently when visiting Abingdon and Marham.

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[RAF Maintenance Command|Maintenance Command]]}} 
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Support Command|years=1973&ndash;1994 }} 
{{s-aft|after=[[RAF Personnel and Training Command|Personnel and Training Command]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[RAF Training Command|Training Command]]<br><small>Absorbed on 13 June 1977</small>}}
{{s-aft|after=[[RAF Logistics Command|Logistics Command]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Support Command}}
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1973]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1994]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force commands|Support Command]]